Episode #261: Bruce Beaumont Part 2
Bruce Beaumont: Helping Business Owners Unlock Profit with Ascendwise Bruce Beaumont, founder of Ascendwise, specializes in helping service-based business owners take control of their numbers so they can build profitable, thriving companies. His work matters because too many entrepreneurs find themselves overworked, stressed, and trapped by cash flow struggles. Bruce offers them a CLEAR path to regain control, increase profit, and enjoy running their business again. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: The Profit–Cashflow Catch-22: Many owners feel trapped—unable to pay themselves more because profit is low, yet unable to increase profit without more cash. Bruce shows how efficiency and profitability, not just cash injections, break this cycle. Focus on Profit Drivers: Four critical areas—gross profit, payroll, overhead, and marketing—determine net profit. Small shifts in these numbers create major improvements in long-term outcomes. The Power of Pricing: Raising prices strategically can often boost profit, even if sales volume decreases. Bruce explains how many businesses can lose up to 20–50% of customers and still maintain profit margins. KPIs Over Gut Feel: Too many owners run their business by watching their bank account balance. Bruce stresses that key performance indicators (KPIs) are the real levers that show what’s working, what’s not, and where to focus effort. Clear Focus = Business Growth: With thousands of potential tasks to tackle, owners often waste energy. Bruce emphasizes focusing on a few core drivers that directly impact profit, cash flow, and growth. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESoTLEF9kvc Memorable Quote: “Net profit is just a game of percentages—once you know the drivers, you know exactly where to pull the levers.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Bruce Linkedin Globe
Episode #260: Bruce Beaumont
Bruce Beaumont, Ascendwise: Turning Chaos Into Clarity (and Profit) Bruce Beaumont is the founder of Ascendwise, a firm that helps owner-operated service businesses get control of the numbers that actually steer the company. With a career spent inside sub-$50M organizations—wearing hats from finance and HR to sales ops—Bruce translates complexity into simple, measurable targets so owners can grow profit, reclaim time, and enjoy their business again. In this Clicks & Bricks episode, Bruce breaks down the five struggles almost every small business hits and how to fix them with vision, targets, and process. If you’ve ever felt trapped by the business you built, this one’s a wake-up call. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es4zc0-KuuE Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: If it relies on you, it’s a job—not a business. Document SOPs, align on vision/mission/values, and empower decisions so the company runs without the owner (or a single “right-hand” person). No measurable goals, no wins. Set clear, time-bound targets so the team knows what success looks like and when it needs to happen. Profit–cash catch-22 is real. You can’t scale without profit, and you can’t create profit without cash—solve it by identifying and tracking the drivers of revenue, profit, and cash. Keep score simply. Owners need a simple way to see what’s working; remove the guesswork with a small set of actionable metrics that drive decisions. Focus beats frenzy. Vision cascades into targets and priorities, so people stop “staying busy” and start moving the business toward the owner’s personal goals. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es4zc0-KuuE Memorable Quote: “Understand the numbers that steer your business.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Bruce Linkedin Globe
Episode #259: Alyson Shane Part 2
Alyson Shane of Starling Social on Smarter Content, Email, and Ads That Actually Perform Alyson Shane is the founder of Starling Social—a nimble, data-driven digital marketing agency focused on strategy, social media and ads, PPC, and content that moves the needle. She’s a lifelong writer and A-type operator who brings order to chaos, builds clear processes, and believes in radical transparency with clients. If you care about measurable marketing (not vanity metrics), this conversation is for you. Why she matters: Alyson breaks down where small and mid-sized businesses should actually spend time and budget—from platform focus to blogging frameworks and email that converts. Her approach blends bullet-proof reporting, real accountability, and practical execution you can implement today. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Own your data & access. Run ads under your accounts and insist on transparent reporting you can verify directly in your dashboards. Skip co-managing chaos. Shared control of campaigns invites finger-pointing and mistakes—assign clear ownership for better results. Be where your buyers are (not where the hype is). TikTok can be resource-heavy and may not match your audience; diversify platforms with purpose. Email is a massive, underused advantage. Think of it as the “spare key to someone’s house”—direct, opted-in access where action is required. Blogging is a long-term growth engine. Use listicles, how-to posts, strong headers/structure, and the “bricks & feathers” model to repurpose big pieces into many smaller assets. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF1jEx3sys8 Memorable Quote: “Email marketing is like getting the spare key to someone’s house.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now
Episode #258: Alyson Shane
Alyson Shane, Starling Social — Building Trust-First Marketing That Actually Delivers Alyson Shane is a writer-turned-digital marketer and the founder and president of Starling Social, a boutique agency focused on content marketing, social media, PPC, and ads strategy. After publishing online since the GeoCities era and earning a degree in rhetoric, Alyson built a team (7–8 strong) that pairs persuasive writing with transparent, process-driven execution. She matters because she champions client ownership, clarity, and measurable results in a noisy agency landscape. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Content-first, channel-agnostic: Starling Social creates across blogs, newsletters, web copy, social posts, and ads—wherever content moves the needle. Process + transparency win: Real reporting, itemized invoices, and clear scopes are non-negotiable; clients should always see where budgets go. Own your assets: Ad accounts and content should live in the client’s accounts, not the agency’s—so performance data and creative don’t get held hostage. Vetting agencies: Look for verifiable testimonials tied to outcomes (e.g., admissions up, leads increased), ask about process, and demand regular reporting. Career arc with backbone: From a stifling accounting job to freelancing beyond her 9–5 and launching in 2014, Alyson built Starling Social by insisting on autonomy, accountability, and better client experiences. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leBOGZwDVMY Memorable Quote: “I want all of my clients to have their own accounts so they can go in and look at it anytime.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now
Episode #257: Ashley Jones Part 2
Ashley Jones & Love Not Lost: Healing Grief Through Love and Connection Ashley Jones, founder of Love Not Lost, is on a mission to change the way we heal from grief. After experiencing the devastating loss of her daughter, Skylar, Ashley turned her pain into purpose by creating a non-profit that helps families and communities process loss with compassion, love, and meaningful connection. Her story is one of resilience, empathy, and entrepreneurship that’s transforming lives across the country. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Grief at work is a productivity issue. Ignoring it drives long-term performance losses; supporting healing improves outcomes across the board. Leadership sets the culture. Empathy and emotional openness only stick when they’re modeled from the top. Practical regulation tools win. Breath work, movement, sunlight, water, and mindful nutrition help move emotions through the body and restore focus. Name it to tame it. Expanding emotional vocabulary (beyond “happy/angry/sad”) boosts self-awareness and prevents reactive cycles. Systematize care. Weekly 1:1s, “pressure cooker” mapping, and clear values create safety so teams can be honest, adapt, and help each other. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxwXhXDRNjY Memorable Quote: “If you don’t address grief and let people heal, the long-term hit to your productivity will hurt your bottom line more.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Ashley Linkedin Globe Globe
Episode #256: Ashley Jones
Ashley Jones & Love Not Lost: Healing Grief Through Love and Connection Ashley Jones, founder of Love Not Lost, is on a mission to change the way we heal from grief. After experiencing the devastating loss of her daughter, Skylar, Ashley turned her pain into purpose by creating a non-profit that helps families and communities process loss with compassion, love, and meaningful connection. Her story is one of resilience, empathy, and entrepreneurship that’s transforming lives across the country. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Turning Pain into Purpose: Ashley founded Love Not Lost after her daughter’s terminal diagnosis and passing, creating a platform to help others navigate the difficult path of grief. Practical Support Tools: From free portrait sessions to the HowCanILoveYouBetter.com tool, her organization provides resources that make it easier for communities to show up for grieving families. Healing Through Presence: Ashley emphasizes that true healing comes from allowing ourselves to feel, stay present, and connect with our bodies instead of “checking out.” The Science of Grief and Trauma: Years of research into trauma and the brain-body connection helped Ashley design effective resources for grief support and education. Creating Cycles of Healing: Love Not Lost is on a mission to transform cycles of pain into cycles of healing by teaching people to love themselves and others through life’s hardest moments. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taZPsVBOiPo Memorable Quote: “To heal, we have to grieve. To grieve, we have to feel. And to feel, we have to be present.” – Ashley Jones Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Ashley Linkedin Globe Globe
Episode #255: Jasveen Kaur
Jasveen Kaur, Clime DAO — Tokenizing Everyday Climate Action Jasveen Kaur is the founder of Clime DAO, a Web3-powered platform designed to turn everyday sustainability steps into verifiable, tradable rewards. With 15+ years in software and product management across giants like Bosch and Fidelity, she’s channeling deep tech experience into a practical path for households, employees, and communities to reduce carbon footprints and get rewarded for it. Clime DAO’s thesis is simple and bold: make climate action easy (Web2 UX), verify it transparently (blockchain + AI/ML), and incentivize it meaningfully (tokens + marketplace). Jasveen’s team positions the product as a “carbon bank as a service”—so organizations can launch pilot programs fast, no crypto wallet required on day one. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Start Web2, graduate to Web3: Onboarding is frictionless—users complete actions first; wallets and on-chain elements come later when value is clear. Work tokens, not pay-to-play: Tokens are earned via real climate actions, then used for DAO participation and carbon-credit monetization. Action Journeys people can actually do: Launching with Energy and Mobility categories (e.g., LED lighting upgrades, eco-driving, hybrid/EV adoption) with clear dollar savings and token rewards. Trust through verification: Clime DAO uses proof-of-stake plus AI/ML to validate emissions reductions and create a transparent provenance trail for every token. Built for scale and efficiency: Runs on Polygon for low fees and a carbon-efficient chain; offered to organizations (employees, customers, residents) as SaaS with flexible, pilot-friendly pricing. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyvlZvZ96yA Memorable Quote: “We don’t want technology to be a barrier… we want it to be an enabler.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Jasveen Globe
Episode #254: Leo Falkenstein
Leo Falkenstein, Consume Media — Building ROI-Driven Video That Scales Leo Falkenstein is the co-founder of Consume Media, an Atlanta-based video marketing agency creating everything from 15-second animated ads to large-budget TV commercials. He matters to founders and marketers because he treats video as a growth accelerant—helping companies attract, convert, onboard, and retain customers with the right content at the right stage. Starting in college filming concerts, Leo and his partner Michael evolved into corporate video to build a sustainable, scalable business. Today, their team delivers end-to-end production—strategy, scripting, casting, shooting, editing, motion graphics, and platform-specific versions—so clients see measurable impact, not just pretty pixels. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Lay the foundation first. Fix your site and core assets before dropping six figures on a TV spot—start at the bottom of the funnel with high-conversion content. Educate customers, not just staff. How-to and onboarding videos reduce returns, support tickets, and time-to-value—whether it’s software walkthroughs or product fitting. Scale with full service. Consume Media handles treatment-to-delivery, including storyboards, casting, 25–30 person shoots when needed, and polished post-production. Optimize for every platform. Deliver in 16:9 (YouTube/TV), 1:1 (feeds), and 9:16 (stories) so the same idea performs wherever your audience watches. Be strategic with social. Unless you already have a big following, prioritize paid social over costly daily organic production to get clear, trackable results. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrg2wd_Kn_c Memorable Quote: “Video is the accelerant.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Leo Globe
Episode #253: David Owasi
David Owasi, Aco Business Academy — Automating Personalized Outreach at Scale David Owasi is the founder of Aco Business Academy and a relentless problem-solver at the intersection of AI and sales. An immigrant entrepreneur who launched his first company in Winnipeg at 19, David now helps high-ticket coaches, consultants, and agencies generate more leads and booked calls using smart automation across LinkedIn, Reddit, and cold email. He matters because he shows how small teams can 10x results without adding headcount—by pairing clear offers with precision personalization. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: LinkedIn, leveled up: Using Sales Navigator to target ideal prospects, David records a one-hour session to train AI on a client’s voice. The system then inserts hyper-personalized name greetings into outreach videos—boosting attention and response versus plain text. Cold email that actually lands: AI creates “Loom-style” website walk-through videos at scale (think personalized name + prospect’s site on screen). Warm up a dedicated domain for 45–60 days to improve deliverability before ramping volume. Reddit as intent goldmine: Identify subreddits and keywords where prospects already ask for help, then lead with value (free guide or quick call). Capture email, trigger follow-ups, and—if desired—auto-generate personalized videos within a day. Numbers that move: Personalized videos are driving ~25–30% click rates and materially higher replies; David cites roughly +50% lift versus non-personalized variants when executed well. Leverage mindset: Inspired by Naval Ravikant’s “code and media” leverage, David shows how to scale outputs (leads, calls) without scaling inputs—using AI and content to work while you sleep. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zshcX34FxZg Memorable Quote: “It’s all about how you leverage these amazing technologies to generate more results doing less work.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with David Linkedin Calendar-alt
Episode #252: Beth Azore
Beth Azore, Madel Media Inc. — Building Manitoba Stories from the Ground Up Winnipeg-based producer/director Beth Azore is the creative force behind Madel Media Inc., a boutique entertainment house investing in Manitoba talent since 2015. With roots in theatre, Film Studies at NYU, and an apprenticeship with filmmaker Michael Moore, Beth has carved a path from local documentaries to developing scripted film and TV that spotlight prairie stories and creators. Why she matters: Beth is helping transform Winnipeg’s film landscape—leveraging generous tax incentives and a tight-knit community while pushing for more locally led, creatively owned projects. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFIIYU8zbA4 Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Start where the doors are open. Beth launched Madel Media by pitching and producing half-hour, Manitoba-focused docs for MTS TV—earning trust through consistent delivery in a name-centric industry. Service boom ≠ creative ownership. U.S. shows increasingly film in Winnipeg, which trains crews and builds infrastructure—but Beth’s mission is to see more Manitoba composers, directors, and key creatives at the helm of original content. Next chapter: development. She’s pivoting to scripted series and features, including optioning works from Winnipeg mystery novelist Alison Preston for screen adaptation. Craft forged by experience. Beth’s background spans NYU, an apprenticeship with Michael Moore, and early projects like Groove on a Stanley Knife, Looking for Godot, and Free—a throughline of learning by doing. Entrepreneurial mindset. Say yes, keep shipping, and build sustainably. Community and family support (plus a strong partner) make the long game possible in a high-stress industry. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFIIYU8zbA4 Memorable Quote: “If I am gonna use that energy, I’d rather it be spent on something that’s meaningful to me.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Beth Linkedin Globe